Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-23

4
THE LIQUOR LICENSE LAW.
Commissioner Webb ON the Question
Of Discretion.
The District Commissioners do not interpret the
existing license law as giving them absolute dis
cretion to grant or refuse an application fer
liquor license. Commissioners Webb. when asked
BY STAR reporter about this point raised by
Gen. Henkle In his speech last night, said that
while the law left this matter to the discretion Of
the Commissioner the discretion implied was
legal discretion or wise discretion. He could not
believe that such power as absolute discretion In
this matter would give was conferred by this law
or intended by Congress. 1t was left to the Com.
mlssloners as he construed II, to enforce the law
wisely, but to enforce 1t, not to annul it. The
Supreme Court Of the United States had taken that
view OF the meaning of the term discretion when
used In legal sense. II the discretion was abso-
lutte, as Gen. Henkle intended, person occupying
could very soon line his nockets ne where Mem neTson
naa inves,ed $4,000 or $4,000 in business and
nad compiled with all the requirements OF the law
miSsioners could refuse him the benefit OF the
license law, merely on account perhaps, OF their
lndlviduai views on the question OF temperance.
fuse liquor license to q gambling house, or TO
grant one, under circumstances that threatened
That would be The exercise of wise or legal dis
erection such as he believed the law contemplated.
The bill which the Commissioners had asked Con-
power and discretion In the matter OF licenses
than they now Possess according to their con-
structton OF the Law.
COL LUDLOW On THE TEMPERANCE AGITATION.
Col. Ludlow, speaking Of the temperance agita-
ton, said he thought that those who were
making charges against the commissioners would
best show their good sense by turning In and
helping the commissioners to secure the passage
sioners and now before Congress.
A C0lOred SWindler.
BE ACTS AS HIS OWN COUNSEL, AND Is CONVICTED
To-day, in the Criminal Court, the case OF the
colored man, Dr.. witter Dumas charged with OBJ
tanning money by false pretenses, by representing
himself as the agent Of an institution for the
mora, Intellectual and industrial improvement OF
the cOlored race, was called, and the defendant
conducted his own case. The specific charge was
the obtaining of g from Rev. Father Tewes OF St
Marys church, on Sept. 18th last.
Detective Carter, who, with Detective Mahon,
arrested Dumas, testified to that fact, and that
the prisoner claimed to be the president Of the in
stitut1On; that It was located at 30 Lexington
street. The officer went to Baltimore and found
nothing to back up the prisoners representation
All they found was that he had been to Baltimore
and had hired hall at the Douglas institute for q
night.
Detective Mahon corToborated Mr.. Carter, and
on crOss-examinatiOn identified receipt for en-
gagement OF the hall In Baltimore for week from
8 a m. to p. m.
He stated that as result OF a set of resolutions
adopted In Philadelphia he went to Baltimore to
establish branch Institution. He had been the
president OF such an institution for two years be-
fore, and here read his circular. About Sept. lSt
he went to MI. Butler to secure hall, explaining
the plans, and the result was that he engaged u
hall an Grand bow waS omDlOVe0 also Young
lady as clerk. He claimed that before he pro-
cured the money from the pastor OF st. Mary's the
hall had been paid for. He statedth he had been
StenOgrapher, clerk In the Treasury depart
ment, and In the employment OF Senator Kellogg
and Others, and that he was "a representative
man"
Dumas replied that there was a meeting. and he
being the founder was elected president. He con-
tended that the sole question was whether the In
stttution was in existence not; that II it was at
the time there was no OnenSe, and he claimed that
the receipt OF Butler showed that 1t was estab-
nShed He had no witnesses present, but be sub
hearSay.
The court remarked that he should not complain
for ne hal been rendered counsel twice and de.
ciined, and 1t was OF no avail now to ask further
"Well, gentlemen of the jury" said the prisoner,
81 am innocent" and he went on to argue that he
could not be convicted.
VERDICT OF GUILTY.
After recess Judge Macarthur briefly charged
the jury. After short absence the jury found q
verdict Of guilty, and the prisoner, who was EVIL
IDENTIFY surprised, said he desired to enter a mo-
ton for new trial The court said he had that
right and had better get lawyer to assist him.
ssThe Duchess,' Under Arrest Again.
CHARGED WITH BEING SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER.
Mrs. Ollie p. ELLIS, better known as the Duchess
of California" was arrested this afternoon by
Detective Raff and was escorted to police head.